Car-coupling.



PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

A. RITTERSBAGH.

GAR GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1904.

UNITED STATES` Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF ONE-FOURTH TO JACOB F.

GAEHRING AND ON E EIGHTH TO ROBERT B. RITTERSBAOH, BOTH OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,889, dated March 14, 1905.

Application iileLl August 18,1904. Serial No. 221,213.

To n/ZZ whom, t Wray con/cern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT RITTEESBAOH, a citizen of the United States` residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Penn- Sylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in car-couplings embodying parts as will be hereinafter described, the novel features of the same being shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 represents a front view of a carcoupling embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical section thereof in line a' a', Fig. 3. Fig. 3 represents a hori- Zontal section on line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal vertical section of couplings of opposite cars embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring' to the drawings, A designates a draw or couplinghead,within which are guided the jaws B, which are adapted to move in opposite directions and have on their inner faces the recesses C, within which is received the coupling link or bar D, the latter having a conical head E, the back of which forms the shoulder F, which engag'es with the rear faces of the jaws B, thus effecting the coupling of the bar with the draw-head. In order to retain the jaws in closed position on the bar, I employ the coil or other springs G, which occupy the boxes H on the sides of the drawhead and communicating openings G in the latter and bear against said jaws, said boxes inclosing and guarding said springs and permitting springs of considerable length and power to be used.

, Pivotally connected with one of the jaws B is the link J, the outer end portion of which passes through an opening in the side of the draw-head and is pivotally connected with the lever K, which is mounted on one ear L on the side of the draw-head and has its upper end pivotally connected with the sliding bar or rod M, which is fitted in the guide N and extended across the top of the draw-head and has its outer end form a handle which is convenient of access, preferably at the side of a car. Depending from said bar M at the side of the draw-head opposite to the lever K is the hanger P, which passes freely through a slot or opening Q in the upper wall of the draw-head and has its inner end slotted or bifurcated and engaging with a pin or stud R, which is connected with the adjacent jaw B, as most plainly shown in Fig'. 2, in which position of parts the operation is as follows: The head E of the link enters the recesses C of the jaws B, and thus force apart the latter until the shoulder F clears the back of the jaws, when under the impulse or pressure of the springs G said jaws quickly close on the shank or body of the link so that the shoulder F is rearward of said jaws and overlaps the walls of the recesses C, thus coupling one end of the link, it being evident that when adjacent cars approach in order to he coupled the other end of the link enters the opposite car, and the operation of coupling' the same is similar to that hereinbefore described. In order to uncouple the cars, the bar M is moved outwardly, whereby the leverK and link J are operated to draw the jaw B connected with said link J from the coupling-link D. The hanger P is carried with said bar M, whereby the other jaw B is drawn from the coupling'- link, the shoulder F of the latter thus being uncovered and being enabled to pass freely through the recesses C, the uncouple thus being effected. When the bar M is let go, the parts, owing' to the pressure of the springs G, return to their normal position.

On the forward face of the rear wall of the draw-head is a recess S, which is adapted to receive the inner end T of the coupling-link D, thus limiting the inward motion of the latter, said recess and end being angular orflatsided, whereby turning of the link is prevented, it being noted that the shank or body of the link is formed in sections, which are connected by a vertical pivot U, whereby the sections may move freely on each other during the swaying of the cars, thus avoiding strain on the link and parts of the coupling,

the operative portion of the pivot U being preserved while coupling the cars by the proper occupation of the end 'l of the link in the recess S.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction shown without departing from the general spirit of my invention, and l do not, therefore, desire to be limited in each case to the saine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. ln a car-coupling, a draw-head, opposed jaws therein and means for simultaneously opening the same consisting of a slid able bar, a lever attached to said bar, a pivotal connection for said lever and one of said jaws and a piece rigidly secured to said bar and depending therefrom passing' freely through a slot in the draw-head and freely connected with the other jaw.

2. ln a car-coupling, a draw-head, opposed jaws, a piece connected with one of said jaws passing' therefrom through the draw-head, a link connected with the. other jaw, a lever pivotally connected with said link, and an operating slidable bar common to said lever and piece.

8. In a car-coupling, a draw-head, opposed jaws therein, a slot in said draw-head, a piece passing through said slot and freely connected with one of said jaws, a link connected with the other jaw, a lever connected with said link, a bearing on said draw-head for said lever and an operating-bar common to said lever and piece, said piece being rigidly secured to said bar and said lever being pivotally connected with said bar.

4. In a car-coupling, a draw-head, opposed jaws therein, boxes on the walls of said drawhead, means for removably connecting said boxes with said walls, and springs litted in said boxes adapted to bear against said jaws to close the same, said boxes being on the exterior of said walls and projecting outwardly therefrom.

5. In a car-coupling, a draw-head havinga recess in the rear wall thereof and a couplinglink having its rear end adapted to enter said recess and be prevented from rotating' therein and its body formed of jointed sections and a vertical pivot connecting the same.

ALBERT RITTERSBACH. lVitnesses:

W. S. JACKSON, C. D. MCVAY. 

